Thursday, February 16, 2012

Cloud Computing Explained

In cloud computing, the word "cloud" (also phrased as "the cloud") is used as a metaphor for "the Internet," so the phrase cloud computing means a type of Internet-based computing, where different services (such as servers, storage and applications) are delivered to an organization's computers and devices through the Internet.Cloud computing is an on-demand service that is obtaining mass appeal in corporate data centers. The cloud enables the data center to operate like the Internet and computing resources to be accessed and shared as virtual resources in a secure and scalable manner.

In its most simple description, cloud computing is taking services ("cloud services") and moving them outside an organizations firewall on shared systems. Applications and services are accessed via the Web, instead of your hard drive. In cloud computing, the services that are delivered and used over the Internet are paid for by cloud customers -- typically on an "as-needed, pay-per-use" business model. The cloud infrastructure is also maintained by the cloud provider, not the individual cloud customers.
Cloud computing networks are large groups of servers and Cloud service providers usually take advantage of low-cost consumer PC technology, with specialized connections to spread data-processing chores across them. This shared IT infrastructure contains large pools of systems that are linked together. Often, virtualization techniques are used to maximize the power of cloud computing. Currently, the standards for connecting the computer systems and the software needed to make cloud computing work are not fully defined at present time, leaving many companies to define their own cloud computing technologies.Editor's Recommendation:Cloud Computing White Papers and Resources for Small Businesses

Public Cloud Versus Private Cloud Explained

Cloud computing denotes a cloud computing platform that is outside of an organizations' firewall on shared systems. In this scenario, your cloud provider is in control of the infrastructure. In contrast, a private cloud is the same platform; however it is implemented within the corporate firewall, under the control of the organization’s IT department.
A private cloud is designed to offer the same features and benefits of cloud systems, but removes a number of objections to the cloud computing model including control over enterprise and customer data, worries about security, and issues connected to regulatory compliance.

Other Meanings of the Phrase 'Cloud Computing'

There are many people out there who believe the term cloud computing is just another buzzword that is used to describe too many technologies, making it confusing to many. The term Cloud computing has been used to mean grid computing, utility computing, software as a service, Internet-based applications, autonomic computing, peer-to-peer computing and remote processing. When most people use the term, they may have one of these ideas in mind, but the listener might be thinking about something else.

Cloud Computing Defined: A Dictionary of Cloud Terms

Cloud App

Short for cloud application, cloud app is the phrase used to describe a software application that is never installed on a local computer. Instead, it is accessed via the Internet. (Read the full definition)

Cloud Computing

A type of computing, comparable to grid computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications. The goal of cloud computing is to apply traditional supercomputing, or high-performance computing power, normally used by military and research facilities, to perform tens of trillions of computations per second, in consumer-oriented applications such as financial portfolios or even to deliver personalized information, or power immersive computer games. (Read the full definition)

Cloud Enablement

The process of making available one or more of the following services and infrastructures to create a public cloud computing environment:

Cloud Management

Software and technologies designed for operating and monitoring the applications, data and services residing in the cloud. Cloud management tools help ensure a company’s cloud computing-based resources are working optimally and properly interacting with users and other services. (Read the full definition)

Cloud Migration

The process of transitioning all or part of a company’s data, applications and services from on-site premises behind the firewall to the cloud, where the information can be provided over the Internet on an on-demand basis. (Read the full definition)

Cloud OS

Cloud Provider

A service provider who offers customers storage or software solutions available via a public network, usually the Internet. (Read the full definition)

Cloud Provisioning

The deployment of a company’s cloud computing strategy, which typically first involves selecting which applications and services will reside in the public cloud and which will remain on site behind the firewall or in the private cloud. Cloud provisioning also entails developing the processes for interfacing with the cloud’s applications and services as well as auditing and monitoring who accesses and utilizes the resources. (Read the full definition)Editor's Recommendation:Cloud Computing Security Challenges

Cloud Storage

Also called online storage, Internet storage or hosted storage, it is a data storage management solution that enables individuals or organizations to store their data on the Internet using a service provider, rather than storing the data locally on a physical disk, such as a hard drive or tape backup. (Read the full definition)

Enterprise Application

The term used to describe applications -- or software -- that a business would use to assist the organization in solving enterprise problems. When the word "enterprise" is combined with "application," it usually refers to a software platform that is too large and too complex for individual or small business use. (Read the full definition)

IBM Cloud

IBM Cloud refers to a collection of enterprise-class technologies and services developed to help customers assess their cloud readiness, develop adoption strategies and identify business entry points for a cloud environment. IBM's cloud computing strategy is based on a hybrid cloud model that focuses on integrating the private cloud services of a company with the public cloud. (Read the full definition)

Internal Cloud

Multi-Tenant

In cloud computing, multi-tenant is the phrase used to describe multiple customers using the same public cloud. (Read the full definition)

Private Cloud

The phrase used to describe a cloud computing platform that is implemented within the corporate firewall, under the control of the IT department. A private cloud is designed to offer the same features and benefits of cloud systems, but removes a number of objections to the cloud computing model including control over enterprise and customer data, worries about security, and issues connected to regulatory compliance. (Read the full definition)

More Cloud Computing Related Phrases

Sun Microsystems identifies Platform as a Service (PaaS) as one of three layers of cloud computing, in addition to Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).PaaS: meaning Platform as aService.SaaS: meaning Software as aService or Storage as aService.IaaS: meaning Infrastructure as aService. Editor's Recommendation:Cloud Computing Trends To Know

Cloud Computing Vendors

The following vendors are just a few companies offering private or public cloud platforms and services:

Just for Fun: Quotable Cloud Computing Quotes

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer During his recent Churchill Club appearance, dismissed the uniqueness of the concept by saying, "When people talk about cloud computing, they're talking just about taking some stuff, putting it outside the firewall, and perhaps putting it on servers that are also shared or storage systems." (Source: InternetNews.com)
Oracle's CEO Larry Ellison According the Wall Street Journal: Ellison declared during a recent analyst conference, "The computer industry is the only industry that is more fashion-driven than women's fashion. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I have no idea what anyone is talking about. What is it? It's complete gibberish. It's insane. When is this idiocy going to stop?" (Source: InternetNews.com)
Carla Schroder, LinuxToday.com Editor: "The cloud hype is getting thicker and smellier every day. All the cloud excitement is coming from those who hope to profit from it, the vendors and breathless tech journalists who can't think of anything worthwhile to write about. They're working very hard to make it sound like a wonderful thing, a miracle of rare device that will transform life as we know it." (Source: LinuxToday.com Blog)
"Cloud computing will be as influential as e-business." (Source: Gartner)
The announcement by Oracle this week that they are "on the cloud" was once again quite an amusing piece of public relations. I don't know if Oracle is serious when they make these announcements or if they are secretly smiling to themselves. Vinnie Mirchandani, a keen observer of the enterprise software space, wrote: "It will not reduce costs of Oracle licensing or even worse, the annual maintenance cost." (Source: Thinking out Cloud)
Free Software Foundation's Richard Stallman During an interview with the UK Guardian, Stallman singled out Google's Gmail in particular for criticism, saying it was a trap aimed at forcing more people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that would cost them more and more over time. "It's stupidity. It's worse than stupidity: it's a marketing hype campaign," he said. (Source: InternetNews.com)